Levi Strauss’

Theory of Binary

Opposites

The Theory

• The theory of binary opposites is that all narratives have to be driven forward by a conflict that was caused by a series of opposing forces, e.g. a hero and a villain, until finally a sort of balance between them, or a resolution is achieved

Examples of binary opposites• Light and dark• Right and wrong• Good and evil• Sanity and

insanity• Human and alien• Youth and age• Strength and

weakness• Honest and

deceitful • Silence and noise

In this image from Frankenstein, there are

obvious binary opposites of light and dark and man and

woman.

1. Paranormal Activity: Paranormal Activity used binary opposites to show a clear difference between the natural and the supernatural. It also has the binary opposite of night and day, when the cameras are on in the day, and during the night.

2. Jennifer’s Body: This film’s main binary opposite is of good and evil, between Jennifer and her best friend Needy. However, there is also the binary opposite of right and wrong, as well as strength and weakness depending on whether Jennifer has eaten or not.

Examples of horror filmsthat use binary opposites